Engagement sessions are one of our favorite parts of the planning process with our SZP Dream Couples. We get to spend more time together and get to know our couples before their wedding, learning their love story and what makes them unique. Part of what makes each couple unique is where they choose to have their engagement photos taken. Planning an engagement session shouldn’t be stressful – so, today, we’re sharing some tips to help you plan out the what, where, and when for your engagement photos!
The Where: Different Locations
Our first suggestion when it comes to location is to explore an area you love and find somewhere you like! Maybe it’s somewhere important to you – where you had your first date, spend your summers, or got engaged. But, you can also think about somewhere that’s the opposite of where you’re getting married. Tying the knot in the city? Why not plan a romantic beach engagement session then? Do the opposite of what your wedding images will look like. All of the images from your engagement session and wedding day will be different and provide you with more variety. It’s a nice way to mix things up!
Our couples often ask if we travel for engagement sessions and the answer is yes! We’ll travel within 30 miles of the studio (which is all of Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts). Anything beyond that will incur a travel fee. But, we’re still happy to do it!
The When: The Time of Year
If you’re thinking about when to have your engagement photos taken, there’s a few things to consider. The first is if you plan to use the images for anything like save the dates or invitations. You’ll want to be sure they’re taken early enough to be included on those items. The other thing to consider is when you’re getting married. If you’re planning a winter wedding, a summer engagement session might be nice. Again, maybe do the opposite of your wedding images for variety. Lean into the season and find something fun to do!
When it comes to the actual time of day you’ll be having your engagement session, our studio always photographs sessions a few hours before sunset. In the winter, it will be much earlier in the afternoon (due to when the sun sets), but, we will still get that golden light everyone loves so much! And, PS – there’s no time limit to our sessions together. We’ll capture everything you want. On average, they last about an hour to an hour an a half, though!
The What: Making Your Session Fun!
Engagement sessions are about more than just capturing a few photos of you two. They’re about taking a step back from wedding planning and relaxing together, celebrating this new journey. And they’re all about hanging out with us for a while!! If you’re looking for something fun to make your engagement session extra special, consider a themed session. In the summer, picnics on the beach can be romantic – and a great excuse to pop the bubbly! We also love the idea of a cozy Igloo during the winter months over at Gerald’s Farm. The ideas are endless!
The final piece after deciding where and when to have your session is deciding what to wear. Luckily for you, we have a WHOLE BLOG post full of inspiration for outfits and ways to plan your choices for the best portraits possible. You’re welcome to change outfits during your engagement session too, but we recommend trying to stick to 2 outfits for the sake of time.
Engagement sessions are always a great time for our couples and we love helping them plan the session of their dreams. As you begin to think about what your session might look like, don’t hesitate to reach out and let us help you plan the perfect session for you and your love story!
